Ashapurna Devi is a prominent novelist and poet of Bengali literature. She was born in 8th January, 1909, in North Kolkata at her maternal uncle`s place. She is one of the legendary personalities of Bengali literature. Ashapurna Devi belonged to an extremely traditional and highly conservative family. In her family, because of the conservative ideals and the domination of her grandmother, the female kids of the house were not permitted to go the school. There were private tutors for the boys of the house. Ashapurna Devi, when she was a kid, used to pay attention to her brother`s readings. And in this way she studied the alphabets. Her father was a famous artist and designer and her mother was a huge book lover. The intensive interest of her mother for reading novels, short stories and classics transmitted to Ashapurna Devi at a very early age. Later on her family shifted to their new house and that gave complete freedom to Ashapurna Devi, her mother and her sisters to read as much as their heart`s desire. In their house, there had been constant flow of magazines and different types of books all the time. Ashapurna Devi was self educated and she had built a love relationship with reading and books. She got married at the age of 15 and she moved to Krishnanagar, West Bengal. Ashapurna Devi died in the year 1995.

Ashapurna Devi began writing at a very young age. She and her sisters used to compete by writing and composing new poems. This factor inspired her to send a poem to the then editor of a popular children`s journal "Sishu Sathi". Her first poem got published when she was just 13 years old. The name of her first poem was "Bairer Dak" (The Call from the Outside). The editor requested her to send more stories and poems. It was the beginning of her never-ending career of Ashapurna Devi in the sphere of literature. In the initial stages she wrote only for the kids. In the 1936, her first adult story "Patni O Preyoshi" was published in the special issue of `Anandabazar Patrika`, the leading daily of West Bengal. Ashapurna Devi`s first adult novel was "Prem O Prayojan". "Pratham Pratisthuti", "Swanlatha" and "Bukul Katha" comprise her popular trilogy.

The writings of Ashapurna Devi are popular for their strong female characters. She wonderfully touched the contradictory and changing expectations of a man and woman relationship. She portrayed the female characters as obedient wives, traditional and stimulating as well. For her female centric themes, critics have described as "kitchen writer". Through her writing she tried to explore the aspirations and inner desires of the women characters and their expectations. This legendary writer strived to make the female characters of her novels break the walls and limits made by the men and to liberate themselves. She portrayed the fights of women with the whole cruel world of men. Her books depict women characters in various ways. For instance, at times she is portrayed as very modern and good looking whereas at times she is portrayed as highly oppressed and traditional.

Throughout her career in the realm of Bengali literature, Ashapurna Devi penned down 242 novels, 62 children books and 37 short stories collection.

Some of the names of her popular novels are as follows -

Aar Ek Ashapurna

Agniparikha

Asha Purna Devi r Rachanaboli [1-10]

Asha Purna Bithika

Anamaniyaa

Bakul Katha

Biswas Abiswas

Chabibandha Sinduk

Chitrakalpa

Chosma Palte Jai

Dibyahasini`r Dinolipi

Drishya Theke Drishyantore

Dwitiyo Adwitiyo

Ei To Sedin

Kalyani

Laghu Tripodi

Lila Chirontan

Nakhyatrer Akash

Noksha Kata Ghor

Pancha Nodir Teere

Prem O Proyojon

Priyo Galpo

Prothom Pratisruti

Sashi Babu`r Sangsar

Siri Bhanga Anka

Sthan Kaal Patra

Subarnalata

Tin Prohor (Baluchori, Sunglass, Srinkholita)

Trimatrik

V.I.P Bari`r Lok

Some of her short stories collection includes -

Aloy Adityer Iccha Patra Rahasyo

Amorabatir Antorale

Bhitore Ki Chilo

Bhuture Kukur

Chutite Chotachuti

Chotoder Srestho Golpo

Doshti Kishore Uponyas

Durer Basi

Ek Kuri Golpo

Ek Samudra onek Dheu

Eker Modhe Teen

Golpo Holo Suru

Golper Moto Golpo

Hasir Golpo

Jibon Kalir Pakka Hiseb

Kanakdeep

Kishore Bachai Golpo

Kisor Sahityo Samagro

Kisor Sahityo Samvar

Kumkum

Nije Bujhe Nin

Nikharchai Amod

Panchasti Kishore Galpo

Pakhi Theke Hati

Poyela Doshra

Raajkumar Er Poshake

Rahasyer Sandhaane

Raja Noi Rani Noi

Rajai Golpo

Rani Mayabatir Antardhyan Rahosyo

Sakaler Sapno

Sarojanter Nayak

Sattyi Amod

Sei Sob Golpo

Sera Rahasyo Samvar

Shanirbachito Chotoder Shesto Golpo

Sono Sono Golpo Sono

Ashapurna Devi received several prestigious awards and prizes for her immense contribution to the world of Bengali literature. She was awarded the Lila prize in the year 1954 by the University of Calcutta. Government of West Bengal conferred her `Raindrop Memorial Prize` in 1966. In the year 1976, she was given the "Padma Shri Award" by the Government of India. She also received the `Jnanpith Award` in the same year. In the 1989, she was honoured with "Deshikottama" by the Visva-Bharati University. In 1993, University of Calcutta presented her `Jagattarini Gold Medal`. Sahitya Akademi awarded its Fellowship to this prolific writer in the year 1994.

Ashapurna Devi dealt with the common issues of the society with extreme clarity. Her writing was like a never-ending process. Through her writing she protested against the injustice, inequality and the gender based discrimination of the traditional societies. Her books presented a modern theoretical feminism approach.